published by, aashi sadana
Last Update: May 10, 2023, 23:51 IST
He said more than 91 per cent of the over 34,000 eligible voters exercised their franchise. (Representational/PTI)
The CEO told PTI, “The polling was to close at 4 pm. However, polling continued till 7 pm in some of the 63 polling stations as there were long queues. There was enthusiasm among voters.
Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor said the bypoll to Sohiong assembly constituency in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district was peaceful with 91 per cent eligible voters exercising their franchise by the end of polling on Wednesday.
There was no report of any untoward incident during the polling which began at 7 am, he said.
“The polling was to close at 4 pm. However, polling continued till 7 pm in some of the 63 polling stations as there were long queues. There was enthusiasm among voters,” the CEO told PTI.
He said more than 91 per cent of the over 34,000 eligible voters exercised their franchise.
He said there were long queues in front of many polling stations an hour before the start of the polling process.
“No law and order issue was mentioned. Some problems related to EVMs were noticed at some polling stations and were rectified. He said the polling was held in a free and fair manner.
However, over 1,450 liters of liquor worth about Rs 4 lakh was seized during the day.
The counting of votes will take place on May 13.
The bypoll was necessitated by the death of UDP candidate HDR Lyngdoh ahead of the February 27 assembly elections in the rest of the state.
Voting in Sohyeong was postponed because of Lyngdoh’s death.
The first five voters were presented with mementos and felicitated to encourage the first-time voters to participate in voting, the official said.
Voters planted saplings after casting their vote at Adarsh polling station. Six candidates are in the fray in the election. All of them are men.
The candidates are UDP’s Sinshar Lyngdoh Thabah, NPP’s Samlin Malangiang, Congress’s S Osborne Kharjana, HSPDP’s Sandondor Rinthiang, BJP’s Seref E Kharbuki and TMC’s Stodingstar Thabah.
If the ruling National People’s Party wins the by-election, its number of seats in the 60-member assembly will increase to 29.
During the campaign, Chief Minister Konrad K Sangma, Deputy CMs Prestone Tynsong and S Dhar and a dozen other ministers campaigned in favor of the NPP candidate.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)
